Work in Ipoh

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Looking for professional opportunities in Ipoh? Find out, in this article, what this city has to offer to foreigners.

Ipoh is one of Malaysia's major cities. However, it is not very popular with expatriates, although various career prospects are available there. In fact, Ipoh is rather deemed to be a retirement and tourist destination. Some even consider Ipoh for their spiritual trips. But if you wish to settle and work there, you will not be disappointed. Ipoh is not only surrounded by industrial areas but also hosts many companies which are quite likely to hire foreigners.

Economy

Ipoh's economy is based on two main economic pillars: the manufacturing industry and tourism. In fact, these are the city's major job creators. Over the years, many foreigners have retired there due to its calmer and tranquil environment compared to other cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baharu.

Note that Ipoh hosts many hotels and tourism infrastructures, as well as shopping malls, restaurants, etc.

Labor market

The city's labor market seems to be smaller than those of many other major Malaysian cities. However, it is very open to foreigners, particularly in the tourism field. However, by choosing to work and live in Ipoh, you should be aware and be prepared to accept its wages and cost of living. In fact, rents are rather low in this city and your food shopping should cost around 75 ringgits a week.

Note that foreigners rarely seek job opportunities in Ipoh although offers are numerous. In fact, those who are highly qualified and skilled in technical, engineering and tourism fields have more chances of being hired.

Good to know:

Many companies operating in Ipoh require candidates to have a good command of Malay or Chinese, or both, given the city's close ties with neighboring cities such as Nanning and Guangzhou. In most cases, a good knowledge of an Asian language will definitely be an advantage for foreign candidates.

Find a job

Most foreigners start their job search on the Internet. You are advised to browse not only general and specialized job websites but also professional social networks. In fact, the concept of networking applies especially to the manufacturing, tourism, management, technical, human resources and engineering fields. You may as well inquire on the local labor market's requirements and conditions on expatriate platforms.